Box Elder County Commission delays decision on Kevin O'Leary's 40,000-acre data center project
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 29
Box Elder County Commission delays decision on Kevin O'Leary's 40,000-acre data center project
6 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 29
The commission postponed its vote until next week, citing the project's scale and concerns about its irrevocable impact on Box Elder County, Utah.
O'Leary's plan, involving WestGen and MIDA, would require up to 9 gigawatts of power and create about 2,000 permanent jobs, with $108 million in annual local tax revenue projected.
The project aims to boost U.S. energy and computing power amid competition with China, but faces potential local opposition over environmental and community concerns, echoing resistance to similar AI infrastructure projects nationwide.
Will 'Wonder Valley' drain Utah's Great Salt Lake for AI's future?
When AI brings few jobs, what is the real benefit for rural Utah?
Can a gas-powered data center attract green-focused tech giants?
Could Utah's massive data hub become a target in future conflicts?
How can a private 9-gigawatt power plant bypass public grid oversight?
Is O'Leary's project a national security asset or a private carbon bomb?